AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Anxiety begins to fill my body.
Calling her was a horrible mistake.
I have to remember.
This is only temporary.
Once I figure my life out, I’ll take my dad, and we can leave.
This is not permanent. I have to keep reminding myself of this. It’s the only way I’ll make it through.
Reluctantly, I follow Grandma Joanie inside. Stepping over the threshold, my eyes widen when I take in the interior of this massive old home. The inside is much the same as the outside, but not in a bad way. A giant staircase fashioned from black hardwood is crowned by the enormous windows behind it, while aged black-and-white tiles that have been polished to perfection lie beneath my feet. The walls are papered in royal purple and more black with more dark wood framing windows that allow for natural light to filter into the room. It must be stunning when the sun is shining.
The stairs part into opposite directions of the house at the top of the landing. Looking up, there is a large black chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It looks like it may have once held candle sticks which have since been replaced by lightbulbs.
On either side of the entrance are open archways leading to other parts of the house. Looking back towards the staircase, Grandma Joanie has gone left and is continuing to climb the stairs while holding onto the handrail. Not wanting to get lost, I stop taking in my new surroundings and reluctantly follow her.
A part of me can't wait to see this place in the daylight. It’s incredible and not at all what I pictured when driving to Port Canyon.
Grandma Joanie is waiting on the second floor landing. Her back is turned to me, but she can hear my footsteps. Once I get close enough, she continues ahead. We proceed down the long hallway, past walls lined with the same dark wood with purple and black wallpaper. Black vintage candelabras illuminate the area, each holding four lit white candles. Wax drips down the stems, hardening along them. Unlike the tiled floor downstairs, this wing is carpeted in black with a creamy white border, the middle faded from what must be years of foot traffic.
Every part of me wants to hate this place, but it’s absolutely stunning. I got to give it to the old bat, she has good taste.
We pass two closed doors and Grandma Joanie abruptly stops in front of a third.
“This is your room. I have two rules while you are here. No snooping and mind your business. Do you understand?” she questions. Not wanting to give her the satisfaction of getting to me, I reply with a simple, “Got it.”
Grandma Joanie wastes no time leaving me on my own, walking past me back toward the staircase.
“Don’t call me Grandma or Granny. You will address me as Joanie.” I don’t turn around. Only knowing she is gone when I hear her take each step back down to the main floor.
Fucking bitch. I refuse to let her get to me.
Grabbing the brass doorknob and turning it until I hear the click of the latch. The door creaks as I slowly open it. Gingerly stepping in with my dad still in hand, I find a room just as beautiful as the rest of the house.
Letting go of the door handle, I pat the wall for a light switch. Finding it easily, I flick it on, and the room lights up thanks to the glass ceiling light. The floors are a dark wood with a plush blood red carpet laying on top. A giant wooden bed with luxurious red and black bedding takes up most of the space. There is a closet off to the side, along with built-in shelving and a desk. The one window in the room looks out onto a space I don’t yet recognize and thick velvet green curtains hang on either side. It’s perfect.
Placing my dad on one of the shelves, I take it all in. I do not want to see that woman again today, ever actually, but what choice do I have? Instead of going back to my car for the rest of my things, I decide to close the door and hide in my new room for the rest of the night.
I’ll face my new reality tomorrow. Tonight, I want to forget and pretend none of this was real.
Chapter3
Fallon
It’s mid-day. After falling asleep last night, I’d expected to be awake often, but that didn’t happen. This place is unknown to me and comfortable is not a word I would use to describe how I feel being here. By the time my body naturally woke up, it was already 11am.
It’s been an exhausting couple of weeks, and this is the first time since my dad died that I’ve been able to sleep without my thoughts racing and keeping me awake. I’d been constantly running through a to-do list in my head, or feeling the pressure and anxiety of time running out before the bank locks the house doors on me. Last night, I put my head on the pillow and slept like the dead. And it was fucking amazing.
After getting dressed in a pair of black leggings, a white crop top hoodie, and my dirty, white high-top converse, I went to my car and got the rest of my stuff. All while successfully avoiding Joanie, who is not a grandmother, and I shall not dare mistake her as one. She is nothing more than my… landlord? No, because I don’t pay rent. But maybe she’ll drop that on me next.
For now, I guess we are roommates.
The crisp air fills my lungs with each breath. I close my eyes briefly, taking it all in for the first time as I wander the grounds outside. It’s a beautiful fall day.
In California, we had fall, but nothing like this. Here, the leaves change colors, hundreds of shades of orange, red and yellow; falling off the trees and carpeting the forest floor below. There’s a slight chill in the air. It’s crisp, but not cold. Mountains and tall trees surround Port Canyon, and coming from the city, it’s a nice change of scenery. I’ve never experienced anything like the absolute silence while standing outside.
The property is bigger than I had imagined. After coming out of the back door, and taking in my new home, my eyes were immediately drawn to a giant stone statue of an angel sitting with her hands resting atop a tall textured piece of wood. It kind of looks like it could be a torch. Her wings are stretched wide, and black tears stream down her face as she looks straight ahead. She’s beautiful.
